North Seas Energy Cooperation

History

The North Sea Offshore Grid was proposed by the European Commission in the Second Strategic Energy Review, published in November 2008. The initiative was identified as one of the six priority energy infrastructure actions of the European Union. According to the European Commission, the North Sea Offshore Grid should become one of the building blocks of a future European super grid. | access-date=31 January 2010}}

The political declaration of the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative was signed on 7 December 2009 at the European Union Energy Council. The declaration was signed by the EU members Germany, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg, as well as Norway.{{cite press release | access-date = 9 January 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720155255/http://storage001.blastmedia.eu/consilium/15286/31428/consilium_15286_31428_8250.pdf | archive-date = 20 July 2011 | url-status = dead | author-link = Department of Energy and Climate Change | access-date = 9 January 2010 | archive-date = 6 January 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100106143104/http://thegovmonitor.com/world_news/britain/uk-joins-the-north-seas-countries-offshore-grid-initiative-for-wind-technology-18062.html | url-status = live

The European Commission planned to publish a "Blueprint for a North Sea Grid" in 2010.

Member states

The member states of the North Seas Energy Cooperation are; Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, together with the European Commission.

The United Kingdom was previously a member but left following Brexit on 31 January 2020. The UK agreed to reengage with NSEC at the first summit of the European Political Community in October 2022, and formally signed an agreement for cooperation with NSEC in December 2022.

Significance

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for the Government of Ireland, Eamon Ryan, said of the initiative:

Irish wind farms will be able to connect directly to Europe, not only securing our energy supply but allowing us to sell the electricity produced on a wider market.

It makes economic, as well as environmental sense. By working together, all of the countries involved will reap the benefits. | access-date = 9 January 2010 | archive-date = 5 October 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005023435/http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/2009/Ireland+and+eight+European+countries+agree+on+North+Seas+Wind+Project.htm | url-status = live

Studies

A techno-economic study into the North Sea Offshore Grid, has been set up within the European Union's Intelligent Energy Europe programme, to consider the technical, economic, policy and regulatory aspects of the possible grid, focused on the North Sea and Baltic region.

Belgium is building a national modular offshore grid, connecting several wind farms for common transfer of power onto land at Zeebrugge, near the Nemo Link to England.

Support

Friends of the Supergrid, a group of companies and organisations interested in promoting the concept and influencing the development of a super grid within Europe, has taken an interest in the North Sea Grid proposals. The organisation has proposed that Phase I of the supergrid should integrate the UK's North Sea renewables with interconnections to Germany and Norway.

Targets

In 2022, NSEC members agreed on a target of 260GW of offshore wind energy by 2050, a major part of the total EU target of 300GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2050. Interim targets of 76GW by 2030 and 193GW by 2040 were also set. The UK plans to have 50GW capacity of offshore wind by 2030.

References

References

1. Jan De Decker, Achim Woyte. [https://www.offshoregrid.eu/images/pdf/pr_pr100978_d4%202_20100728_final_secured.pdf 4 offshore grid scenarios for the North and Baltic Sea] {{Webarchive. link. (15 March 2017 ''Offshoregrid.eu'', July 2010. Retrieved: 24 August 2010.)
2. "UK signs agreement on offshore renewable energy cooperation".
3. [http://www.offshoregrid.eu/ OffshoreGrid] {{Webarchive. link. (3 May 2011 , published 2011, accessed 3 October 2011)
4. "[http://www.energinet.dk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Engelske%20dokumenter/El/Nordic%20Grid%20Development%20Plan%202014.pdf Nordic Grid Development Plan 2014] {{webarchive. link. (4 January 2015 " page 70-77, Document no. 13/81818–5. ''Nordic TSOs'', August 2014. Accessed: January 2015.)
5. (20 May 2019). "Belgium plugs offshore wind into newly built grid".
6. (27 April 2018). "Modular architectures and offshore islands to revolutionise grid connection".
7. [http://www.europeanenergyforum.eu/members/associate/friends-supergrid Friends of the Supergrid], European Energy Forum, accessed 3 October 2011
8. [http://www.friendsofthesupergrid.eu/ Friends of the Supergrid – Official site] {{Webarchive. link. (11 April 2021 accessed 3 October 2011)
9. [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmenergy/1040/104005.htm A European Supergrid] {{Webarchive. link. (15 January 2021 Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, published September 2011, accessed 3 October 2011)
10. "The North Seas Energy Cooperation".
11. "Offshore wind".